Vidyarthi mithram comics

Vidyarthi mithram comics in various languages found recently. Seems 5 issues of tamil VM was published. Four are featured here.....

Chandamama from 1955......

Chandamamas from 1955. This publication first appeared in Telugu in 1947. In Kannada it was published in 1949 whereas in English in 1955. Malayalam editions came earlier than English in 1952. But it is really hard to find an issue Of Ambiliamavan as it called in Malayalam prior to 1970. Received four beautiful kannada copies. The gorgeous art of Sankar and Chitra which one enjoyed in later edition can be seen in these early ones too. But the Iconic Vikram ,Vetala Art by Sankar came to be much idolized in the 1970s . A lovely art by the Fabled Chitra is included here......

Binaca Again......

Collectors in 1970s used to put these little Beauties in Horlicks bottles: This is not an Horlicks one but it will do!! Very happy to get 100 plus of these Binaca Toys. Doubly happy to see the green transparent Leapord which was my favorite as a kid......

 Some uncommon figures from Binaca. Not the usually seen ones. I wonder how many Figures were actually given off by Binaca Company. One knows that a figure came in multiple colors. I should think around 60 to 70 different figures are given out. Later to stay in the competition Binaca changed the name to Cibaca and gave off these little figures, but could not stand against the might of Colgate and other Global Giants......

Ambili Amavan

Ambili Amavan

     "Ambili amavan" the malayalam Version of Chandamama was such a Popular magazine during my School days. The stories of Ramayan, hanuman and especially The Vikram and Vetala stories made a Deep impression on my Mind. The Most beautiful art of Shankar and Chithra was out standing.The illustration of  King Vikram and vetala is iconic. Raza and Vapa were also exceptional artists of Chandamama.

              Though it is very easy to get the English Chandamama it was really very hard to get the Malayalam version. So was very happy to get issues from 1973 to 1975.    

Regal Publications :Phantom & Mandrake.......

Regal Publications :Phantom & Mandrake.......

First look at Regal publication Phantom and mandrake , Malayalam. Published march,2019, seven years after the last phantom publication in 2012. The earlier versions of 1980s and 1990s were much larger sized as was the issue of 2012. This one is beautifully done in a trimmer format( Slightly larger than an Indrajal Volume issue) in a 32 page format. Cover is semi Glossy and pages white and with matt finish.The whole comic looks sturdy and oozes class. Another difference is that this issue is in color. Copy right obtained from king features Syndicate,Inc : Hearst Holdings, Inc.
It would seen that These Regal Issues are the only Currently publishing Phantom and Mandrake issues with due copyright from King Features Syndicate in India......

Regal Phantom mini.....

Regal Phantom mini.....

Regal Comics: Earlier issues were mini in size where as the later issues were of much larger format. The smaller earlier version of Regal Comics are very hard to get.....

Tarzan, Apornas Son

Tarzan, Apornas Son 

                                    Of All the Super heroes Tarzan is one of my Favourite due to various Reasons.

He is Down to earth character who does not have any Super Human powers or weapons to aid him in his fight against Evil. The Jungle lord is Still as Mysterious as Phantom, Ghost who walks who also spends a majority of his time in the Jungle, indeed Both live in the Jungle. 
     The art in the Tarzan comics was embellished by such greats as Burne Hogarth,Russ Manning,Joe Kubert and John Celerdo to name a few.  I was enthralled as a Kid by the Art of John Celerdo who was the artist in all “Tarzan, Apornas Son” series published by Vidyarthi Mithram, a publishing house in Kottayam, Kerala. 
     "Apornas Son" or son of an ape is an issue originally published from Finland. This issue has certain oddities. In the first few issues Indian Pricing is not evident. The word " Pris" is noted instead of Rs which was printed after the 10 issue. Another oddity was the Famous VM emblem was inprinted only after the 10 issue.
Many has asked me about another oddity. In sharp contrast with other Indian comics the later issues of Tarzan Apornas are more rarer and hard to find. The reason could be by the late 1970s there was more interest in the issues of Phantom and Mandrake which VM has started publishing.So this limited print run was the major cause of the rarity of the later VM Tarzan issues.
 But for all the faults these VM Tarzan are now highly collectible. One glaring defect in the inner art of these Panels done by Celerdo is that One Pane will have outstanding art and the very next Panel quite mediocre one giving one a strong suspicion that another filled in for Celerdo in the daily panels.At the same time I found consistent Great art in some Titles Notably “Rebels from Christonia” , “The Jungle Girl and the witch Doctor “ , “The Mad professor” The Masked Avenger”, “The Sunken City, “The bait” etc. The series Started in 1974 and Published nearly 40 Titles.

Enjoy Reading The Tarzan Strips by clicking on the Links Below.......

Tarzan Apornas Son #14: The Jungle girl and the witch doctor. Daily Strips......
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PPS_Zs3A1qrem74kdUaboa4Y2v8xPQu1/view?usp=sharing

"Tarzan Apornas Son"  #3 The Secret of the Silver Vase.DailyStrips.......
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pvy4p1rVcqj_fyWarKGIePjrDKl2ntIL/view?usp=sharing

Vintage Comics and Mags......

Recent Additions.

AFI #113 : The Case of the Hollywood Love-Goddess Kidnap.
 I love these Rip kirby Issues.

Tan Man Comics : Hatim and The jewel Thieves.
Only some 7 issues of Tan man Comics published so far.
 Has Three of these beautiful titles.

Vidyarthi Mithram Phantom Tamil #1

Vidyarthi Mithram Phantom Tamil #3

Film Fare March,1953: 

The most striking cover pics of this magazine are from the 1950s.....